Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1717 - July 19 2010

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1717 with a release date of
Friday, July 9, 2010 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T. New Zealand's telecommunications regulator
questions the legality of Internet connected ham radio. The 2010 World
Radiosports Competition takes place in Russia. The FCC to host a big
meeting regarding wireless medical electronics. Delaware exempts ham
radio from its new cellphone law and a new Cube-Sat will investigate
interference to High Frequency communications. Find out the details on
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1717 coming your way right
now.


(Billboard Cart Here)

**

RADIO LAW: NEW ZEALAND REGULATOR VOICES CONCERNS OVER INTERNET CONNECT
HAMRADIO

New Zealand is the latest nation to look at Internet linked ham radio
operation and question its legality. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, is in
Auckland with mo

--

New Zealand's Ministry of Economic Development -- the MED -- which acts as
the nations telecommunications regulator has raised some concerns with the
New Zealand Amateur Radio Transmitters or NZART. This, over Internet
connected ham radio operations such as IRLP, D-Star, Echolink, APRS and all
similar unattended transmitter supervision. This is because they do not
appear to fit within the nations current ham radio license conditions.

Among the concerns raised by the MED, is the use of unattended transmitters
and unlicensed digipeaters for APRS. They are also concerned over the
possibility of overseas radio amateurs operating a New Zealand based
amateur station without specific MED sanction to do so.

The NZART Administration Liaison Officer is Don Wallace, ZL2TLL. He is
currently putting together a paper on this topic and would appreciate input
from all interested New Zealand amateurs.

And from down-under in Auckland, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, reporting for the
Amateur Radio Newsline.

--

The concern voiced by New Zealand's Ministry of Economic Development comes
closely on the heels of France banning ham radio use of D-Star and possibly
other digital voice modes because they use codecs based on proprietary
software and algorithms. As reported here on Amateur Radio Newsline last
week, Frances telecommunications regulator ARCEP says that this is a
violation of that nations open standard policy. The ARCEP also cites
alleged concerns regarding cryptography and national
security. (ARNewsline(tm), Southgate))

**

RESTRUCTURING: NEW ZEALAND RESTRUCTURES THE 806 TO 960 MHz BAND

Still down-under, word that Minister for Communications and Information
Technology Steven Joyce has just announced details of the changes planned
for the 806 to 960 MHz radio spectrum band. The parts of the decision that
affect New Zealand amateurs are adding 915 to 920 MHz and giving hams
access to all of 915 to 928 MHz over 5 year lead-time.

On the down side, hams will loose access to 928 to 929 MHz. They will also
have to accept a shared sub-band 920 to 926 MHz with RFID tags capable of
running up to 4 watts power out.

These changes were to be published in the July 15th New Zealand government
NZ Gazette. Most will be effective immediately, except for the removal of
the 928 to 929 MHz frequencies from the Amateur service which will not come
into force until August 12th. (NZART News)

**

RADIOSPORTS: WRTC 2010 HELD IN RUSSIA

The Ham Radio Olympics are on. This as the World Radiosport Team
Championship for 2010 is getting under way as we go to air.

This year the games are being hosted by the Russian national amateur radio
society and taking place near Moscow. 50 teams from all over the world are
competing. The contest was scheduled to begin at 1200 U-T-C on July 10th
and end at 1200 U-T-C on July 11th. More is on-line at www.wrtc2010.ru
(WRTC)

**

WORLDBEAT: INCREASED CONTEST POWER IN IRELAND UPDATE

The Irish Radio Transmitters Society which is Irelands national ham radio
society is continuing to pursue with Ireland's regulator ComReg. This,
regarding its request to secure increased power for Irish hams during a
list of international HF and VHF contests still to be finalized.

At this point ComReg says that it wants to get a list of licensed amateurs
in Ireland who would be interested in getting permission to operate with
increased power for the contests. Hams in Ireland who wish to have their
name included should e mail the Irish Radio Transmitters Society contest
manager Thos Caffrey`, EI2JD to contestmanager (at) irts (dot) ie. (IRTS)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: NEW SA CUBESAT TO INVESTIGATE HF INTERFERENCE

The world of amateur radio may soon have greater insight into sources of
interference on the High Frequency bands. This with word that an important
mission of the upcoming South Africa AMSAT CubeSat will be to measure the
High Frequency noise levels over South Africa and report this information
back to Earth for analysis and action to reduce these unwanted signals.

S-A Amsat's Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV, will be giving a presentation
on South Africa's first CubeSat at the AMSAT-UK Colloquium in Guildford,
England, that runs from July 31st through August 1st. According to ZS6AKV
the information from the tiny satellite will identify the areas where the
H-F frequency polluters are situated and will help in reducing or
eliminating the source. It is also hoped to include a 30 kHz linear
transponder and an Automatic Packet Reporting System in the CubeSat.

More on this interference detection experiment from space is on-line at
www.uk.amsat.org/colloquium We will have more ham radio space related news
later on ion this weeks Amateur Radio Newsline report. (ANS, AMSAT-SA)

**

RESCUE RADIO: FCC AND FDA TO HOST JOINT MEETING ON WIRELESS MEDICAL
ELECTRONICS

An important meeting dealing with wireless broadband and medical
electronics is skated for Washington DC later this month. Fred Vobbe,
W8HDU, has the details:

--

The Federal Communications Commission and Food and Drug Administration will
be seeking comment on converged communications and health care devices
impact on regulation. This, at a public meeting to discuss topics related
to this issue is scheduled for July 26 and 27th.

According to a joint news release there have been significant developments
in recent years in medical and health care devices using radio technology
to monitor various body functions and conditions. These include including
critical care elements as well as those used to deliver treatment and
therapy. Examples of the latest implant or body-worn monitoring,
therapeutic, and treatment technologies include blood glucose monitors and
automated insulin pumps, heart monitors, pacemakers, defibrillators, and
neural pathway replacements that stimulate muscle movement. There has also
been an increasing proliferation of devices using established commercial
communications networks, including those providing Internet connectivity to
communicate with care providers.

The FCC and FDA say that they both recognize the need to work with all
providers and users of these devices to identify pathways and strive to
improve processes that will help continue to spur innovation in these areas
while maintaining safety and effectiveness and promoting public
health. Therefore the objective of this meeting is to gather information
and to better understand issues and perspectives so the agencies can
identify potential areas where each agency's jurisdiction can be
identified
and clarified for affected parties. Also to gauge how the collection and
assessment of each agency's respectively appropriate information can be
improved, expertise can be shared, and regulatory approval can be
coordinated and simplified.

Im Fred Vobbe, W8HDU.

--

The public meeting will be held July 26 and 27th from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m
Eastern Daylight time at the FCC Commission Meeting Room, 445 12th St., SW,
Washington, DC. Those interested in attending or participating in the
meeting must register by 5 p.m. on July 19th . (FCC)

**

BREAK 1

From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the K9UXP repeater
serving Eau Clare Wisconsin.

(5 sec pause here)


**

RADIO LAW: DELAWARE EXEMPTS HAMS FRON MOBILE CELLPHONE BAN

A big win for mobile ham radio operations in Delaware. This with word that
in a unanimous vote, both houses of that states legislature passed an
amendment to a Delaware house bill that outlaws mobile use of "two-way
communication" devices, but now specifically allows amateur radio use.

As reported last week, the original wording of the states cellphone law
would have also banned all sorts of two-way radio operations as well. But
State Representatives Ruth Briggs King and Dave Wilson recognized the
deficiencies in the wording and introduced an amendment to correct
them. It then became the work of the Delaware ham community to assure its
passage.

According to a public posting by Dennis Karol, KB3MJ, on the QRZed.com
website, some 15 Delaware amateurs not only wrote, called and emailed to
their state Representatives and Senators, but actually spent endless hours
at Legislative Hall in Dover on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. They spent
that time educating legislators about radio communications in general and
amateur radio in particular. In the end, the amendment passed with yes
votes from 100% of the Representatives and Senators who were present in
both Houses. (KB3MJ via QRZ.com)

**

ENFORCEMENT: FCC ISSUES WARNING NOTICE FOR SAN FRAN UNLICENSED STATION

The FCC's San Francisco office has issued Notice of Unlicensed Operation
the FCC has Phillip N. Reiker of Watsonville, California. This, regarding
an unlicensed broadcast station operating from property that he owns in the
city of Santa Cruz.

According to the June 3rd notice, the San Francisco FCC Office had received
information that an unlicensed broadcast radio station on 101.1 MHz was
allegedly operating in Santa Cruz. This past March 19th agents from this
office confirmed that radio signal was coming from property that public
records show Reiker as owning.

Reiker was told that he must immediately cease operation of the unlicensed
transmitter. He was also given ten days to explain his activities to the
FCC. That date has now past. (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT: YOU CANT CLOSE THOSE SHUTTERS WITH A NON CERTIFIED TRANSMITTER

The FCC has issued an official Citation to the USA Shutter Company, LLC,
doing business as MaestroShield of Naples, Florida for allegedly marketing
unauthorized radio frequency devices in the United States. This, in
violation of Section 302(b) of the Communications Act and Sections 2.803
and 15.201 of the Commission's Rules.

According to the FCC, back in 2009 it received a complaint alleging that
USA Shutter was selling unauthorized wireless remote control transmitters
used to control window shutters. On December 3, 2009 a Letter of Inquiry
to USA Shutter regarding this matter. In its response on December 18th,
USA Shutter replied stating that it do not manufacture remote control
transmitters but did admit to importing and marketing four models
of these devices beginning in January of 2007 and another model later
on. It also admitted that these wireless remote control transmitter models
are not FCC certified.

In the Citation the FCC told USA Shutter that intentional radiators such
as the wireless remote control transmitters are required by Section 15.201
of the Rules to be approved through the certification procedures prior to
marketing within the United States. Since these devices have not received
FCC certification, USA Shutter was warned to cease selling them. If the
company continues to do so it can be fined up to $16,000 for each such
violation or each day of a continuing violation.

USA Shutter was given the customary 30 days from the June 21st issuance
date of the Citation to respond and to specify the actions that it has
taken to ensure that it does do not violate the Commission's rules
governing the marketing of radio frequency equipment in the future. (FCC)

**

RESCUE RADIO: HAMS PRIOVIDE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AT NORTH CAROLINA BARBACUE

Hams in North Carolina were ready when the heat of the day took its toll on
a woman attending the regions Hog Day barbecue. Amateur Radio Newsline's
Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has the rest of the story:

--

On June 19th, members of the Orange County Radio Amateurs and Orange County
ARES had been on duty at the annual street fair in Hillsborough , North
Carolina, known as "Hog Day," since about 8:00AM. The hams were providing
backup communications for the event when at about 12:40 in the afternoon
when a woman came into an exhibitor's booth and collapsed. She was able to
tell onlookers that she was feeling weak from the 90 degree heat.

At just about the same time two ham radio operators happened to be at the
same booth. One of them, Lad Carrington, W4ORD, immediately radioed the
situation to net control Ken Kauffmann, KR4FM. Kaufmann in turn dispatched
paramedics from Orange County Emergency Services.

The call over the repeater was also heard by Woody Woodward, K3VSA, whose
assignment was to shadow David Hunt, the chief judge for the event's
barbecue cookoff. Hunt is also a volunteer fireman immediately made for
the location with a bottle of chilled water. When Woodard and Hunt arrived
on the scene woman was slumped down in a camp chair. Hunt used some of the
cold water to apply a compress to the back of her neck.

And the bottom line: Another time when emergency trained ham radio
operators were in the right place at the right time.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the Newsroom
in Los Angeles.

--

The paramedics arrived just moments later to provide emergency care and
transport the victim further inside an air conditioned space. (K3VSA)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: VK7TBM HONORED FOR CREATING COAST RADIO NETWORK

Tasmanian radio engineer Barry McCann, VK7TBM, has received international
recognition in the Queens Birthday honors. This, for his contribution to
maritime communications.

VK7TBM was the co-founder of what has become Australia's largest marine
radio network known as Coast Radio. This is radio communications system
manned by volunteers that provides radio services to commercial fishers and
recreational boaters.

The Coast Radio Network covers a large stretch of water from the South
Australian Victorian border, to 300 nautical miles south of Tasmania, and
up to the New South Wales Victorian border. The idea for the marine radio
network came about after Barry spent an unplanned night at sea in the mid
1970's, after the engine in his boat failed. (WIA)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: VE2KHC APPOINTED RAC DIRECTOR FOR QUEBEC

Congratulations to James Keep, VE2KHC who was recently appointed as the
Radio Amateurs of Canada Director for the Quebec. This, for the remainder
of a two year term which started June 24, 2010 ending December 31,
2012. VE2KHC is a Certified Emergency Coordinator, has trained with the
Sécurité Civil Quebec and is also a registered Radio Amateurs of Quebec
member. (RAC)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: MARSHALL RADIO CLUB REACTIVATED

And a radio club that assisted in the 1980's video Amateur Radio's Newest
Frontier has recently been reactivated. This with word that the George C.
Marshall Radio Club in Huntsville, Alabama has come bact to active status
after being dormant for many years.

On July 1st, one of the first meetings of the club was held with eight in
attendance. Leaders say that there are many items that need to address as
a club, but they have high hopes of bringing this club back to its formal
glory.

Back in the early 1980's it was members of this radio club that made
possible the taping of segments of Amateur Radio's Newest Frontier dealing
with the European Space Agency's Spacelab that was carried to orbit by the
United States Space Shuttle. (Via e-mail)

**

BREAK 2

This is ham radio news for today's radio amateur. From the United States
of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links to the world from
our only official website at www.arnewsline.org and being relayed by the
volunteer services of the following radio amateur:

(5 sec pause here)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: NEW PC FOR THE ELDERLY

A new desktop P-C aimed at people aged over 60 who are unfamiliar with
Personal Computers and the internet has been unveiled in the United
Kingdom. Called Simplicity, the simplified desktop has only six buttons
directing users to basic tasks such as e-mail and chat.

The Simplicity computer has no log-in screen when it starts up, contains no
drop-down menus and comes pre-loaded with 17 video tutorials. The operating
system is a version of Linux that can be customized by users.

So far the SimplicITy computer system is only available in the
Europe. According to the BBC story introducing it, more than 6 million
people in the UK over the age of 65 have never used the internet, according
to British government figures. (Science OnLine)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: NEW TERAHERTZ RECEIVER DEVELOPED

Sandia National Laboratories researchers in Albuquerque, New Mexico have
taken the first steps toward reducing the size and enhancing the
functionality of devices in the terahertz frequency spectrum. This, by
combining a detector and laser on the same chip to make a compact receiver.

Researchers say that this development has rendered unnecessary the
precision alignment of optical components formerly needed to couple the
laser to the detector. The new solid-state system puts to use the
so-called "neglected middle child" frequency range between the microwave
and infrared parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Terahertz radiation is of interest because some frequencies can be used to
"see through" certain materials. Potentially they could be used in
dental
or skin cancer imaging to distinguish different tissue types. They also
permit improved nondestructive testing of materials during production
monitoring. Other frequencies could be used to penetrate clothing, and
possibly identify chemical or biological weapons and narcotics. More is on
line at tinyurl.com/33o2n2j (Sandia National Labs Press Release)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: EASA COLUMBUS AIS SYSYEM ANTENNA BUILT BY HAM

SpaceDaily.com reports that the European Space Agency's Columbus module
maritime Automatic Identification System or AIS aboard the International
Space Station was switched on. The A-I-S antenna, mounted externally on
the Columbus module, was fabricated by AMSAT and ARISS member Lou McFadin,
W5DID and the United States ARISS team. The group has also constructed a
nearly
identical amateur band antenna for ARISS operations that will be used when
the Ericsson amateur radio gear is activated in early 2011.

And how well does the new antenna work? The European Space Agency reports
receiving more than 90,000 Class A AIS messages during a 14 hour test
between 1900 GMT on June 2nd and 0900 GMT on June 3rd. This generated a
global view of maritime traffic as the ISS orbit crosses all major shipping
lanes. (ANS)

**

RADIO IN SPACE: A POSSIBLE BONUS SHUTTLE MISSION

The July 2 UniverseToday.com newsletter reports that NASA announced new
target dates for the final two or maybe three shuttle missions. STS-133 is
now aiming for November 1 at approximately 4:33 p.m. EDT for the final
flight of shuttle Discovery,. STS-134 will happen on February 26, 2011 at
around 4:19 p.m. EST for shuttle Endeavour's last launch.

However there's now word for the potential of a bonus mission titled
STS-135. If approved by Congress, it would launch sometime in August 2011.
The latest word on that was that NASA officials hope the decision on
whether or not to fly STS-135 would be made sometime this month. (ANS,
Universe Today)

**

HAM RADIO NEAR SPACE: STUDENTS TO BUILD PAYLOAD FOR SUTH AFRICAN HABEX
BALLOON

Students assisted by area hams will be building the payload for the South
African High Altitude Balloon Experiment or HABEX project. This for the
ZS6SCI SciBono Discovery Center in association with the Gauteng Department
of Education.

The objective is to involve schools in Gauteng in the entire process of
developing and building a payload that will be launched using an unmanned
meteorological balloon.

SciBono approved a budget for the building of HABEX. A team of radio
amateurs who are engineers and designers are assisting the schools in
developing the payload. Approval has been obtained from authorities for
the launch of HABEX which is currently slated now for July 24th from nearby
Klerksdorp Airfield. At airtime its not known what type of ham radio gear
will be on board at liftoff.

HABEX was inspired by the United States BACAR or Balloon Carrying Amateur
Radio project. (SARL)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: INDIA HAMSAT MAY LAUNCH IN SEPTEMBER

An Amateur Radio satellite being built by students at S-R-M University may
be launched by the Indian Space Research Organization in September. An
S-R-M University press release describes the new bird called S-R-M-SAT as a
15 watt satellite weighing between 10 and 15 kg and measuring one meter,

S-R-M-SAT may use the bands 145.8MHz for the uplink and 434.5MHz for the
downlink. It will launch along with the primary payload known as load
Cartosat and two other amateur radio satellites called STUDSAT and
TISat-1. (NDTV-India)

**

ON THE AIR: THE 5K200, COLOMBIA SPECIAL EVENT

On the air, keep an ear open for what are being called duly authorized
members of the Colombian Radio Amateur Association to be active as 5K200LR
throughout 2010. This is a special event call to celebrate the
bicentennial and independence of Colombia. QSL electronically via Logbook
of the World or direct to HK3LR. (Southgate)

**

ON THE AIR: KP4 TO CELEBRATE THE XXI CENTRAL AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN GAMES

Members of the Puerto Rico Amateur Radio League should be on thre air using
the special event call sign K4C. This operation is to Activity is to
celebrate the XXI Central American and Caribbean Games that will take place
in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. K4C will conclude operations on August 1st. QSL
direct to KP4ES. (Various)

**

PROPAGATION: POLANDS FIRST 10 METER BEACON ON THE AIR

Poland first ever amateur radio 10 meter beacon in on the air. SR4TEN is
located in the office of the Polish amateurs' radio journal QTC Magazine in
Grid Square JO94RG. It operates on 28.203 MHz with 3 watts power output.
If you receive SR4TEN, please send your Q-S-N reports by e-mail your qtc
(at) post (dot) pl.
(SP2FAP)

**

DX

In DX, word that F5IRO is headed to Djibouti and will be active as J28RO
beginning July 6th and is expected to stay for 2 years. Activity will be
on the HF bands using CW, SSB and the Digital modes mainly on the weekends
and during the afternoons and evenings starting between 1200 to 1300 UTC.
His QSL Manager is F8DFP.

The KL7RRC 2010 Alaska tour will take to the air from Kodiak Island from
July 19th to the 21st . This will b e followed by an operation from
uninhabited Chirikof Island beginning July 22nd and running through August
1st or 2nd with a final swing back to Kodiak Island on August 3rd and
4th. QSL via UA9OBA or N7RO.

JF1OKX, will be active as 9J2KK from Lusaka, Zambia beginning through the
end of September 2011. Operation will be on 80 through 6 meters
concentrating on the Digital modes such as PSK, WSJT and RTTY, but there
may be time for some SSB and CW as well. QSL via JK1NSR.

YL2PN operating portable ES0 will be on from Ruhnu Island, Estonia, during
the RSGB Islands on the Air Contest on July 24th and 25th. He will be a
Single-Operator/Low-Power/All-Band/Mixed entry. If you work him QSL via his
home callsign.

Lastly, JI1LET, will be on the air stroke JD1 from Chichijima Island
between July 24th through the 30th. His activity will be on 40 through 6
meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL to JI1LET direct or via the JARL Bureau.

(Above from various DX News Sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM: MILITARY SURPLUS AND THE FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM

And finally this week, we all know that after World War 2 a lot of United
States military surplus began showing up in the marketplace. This was
especially true of two way radio equipment such as the famed ARC 5
receivers and transmitters. These units cost the government thousands of
dollars but hams in the 1950's and 1960's could by as many as they wanted
for under ten bucks. But not every country disposed of its military
surplus on the open market. The United Kingdom was one of those that took
a different approach that did not always work as we hear from Jim Linton,
VK3PC.

--

At the end of World War II, with peace declared, huge quantities of
equipment were simply dumped.

A story published in Signal, the magazine of the Vintage Military
& Amateur Radio Society, concerns reports of Royal Air Force radio
gear being tipped down dis-used coal mine shafts in Staffordshire.

A local farmer Thomas Weston retrieved thousands of these units
and through an associate George Eyre sold them on the open market to make
a tidy profit.

Everything was going well until the farmer's local member raised
a question in the British Parliament about this disgraceful waste
of resources occurring at a time the nation was undergoing tough
post-war financial restraint.

That caused a political storm and the farmer was threatened with
legal action by the Coal Commission on the grounds that he was trespassing
when entering the mines.

But in the following year 1947 the farmer got under their guard by buying
land containing two old mine shafts and without restriction restarted his
enterprise.

It seems that other things were dumped after the war too. Rumors
include items ranging from old mess hall cutlery through to boxed
unassembled aircraft.

I'm Jim Linton VK3PC.

--

More proof that in the end the free enterprise system works best, even if
its takes going through the proverbial back door to make it happen. (WIA)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ
Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands, Rain, the
RSGB, the Southgate News and Australia's W-I-A News, that's all from the
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm). Our e-mail address is
. More information is available at Amateur Radio
Newsline's(tm) only official website located at www.arnewsline.org. You can
also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline(tm), 28197 Robin
Avenue, Santa Clarita California, 91350

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Don
Wilbanks, AE5DW, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.